The multi-cancer early detection landscape has expanded well beyond a single test — and clinicians need a working knowledge of the full field to counsel patients with confidence. In this session, Dr. Candace Westgate moves beyond Galleri to examine two emerging MCED platforms: CancerGuard and the Shield MCD test. She will review the distinct technologies, analytes, and detection methodologies underlying each test, compare the available clinical validation data, and address the practical clinical questions that arise when patients present asking about their options. With MCED testing entering mainstream clinical conversations faster than most guidelines can keep pace, this session gives clinicians the evidence-based framework to evaluate these tools critically and integrate them thoughtfully into cancer risk and prevention discussions.
Candace Westgate, DO, MPH, FACOG, MSCP, is a board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist with specialized expertise in cancer risk assessment, menopause care, and personalized preventive medicine. She earned her Master of Public Health from Tulane University, focusing on maternal and child health, and completed her medical degree at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her OBGYN residency training was completed at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Westgate holds advanced certifications in Advanced Laparoscopy, Menopause Management (NCMP), and Genomic Counseling through ACOG. She is also a 2018 graduate of the City of Hope’s Intensive Course in Genomic Cancer Risk Assessment. Her approach to care is rooted in precision medicine—integrating genetic, lifestyle, and hormonal factors to deliver individualized, evidence-based solutions for women across the lifespan.
She is the founder of the AHEAD Program, a population-based initiative focused on cancer risk assessment, prevention, and early detection at Adventist Health in California. She now serves as the Director of Personalized Medicine at Community Health Network in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she continues to lead efforts to integrate genomics and preventive strategies into clinical practice.
A respected educator and advocate, Dr. Westgate is passionate about making complex science accessible to patients and providers alike. She regularly speaks at public and professional forums on topics including early cancer detection, cancer risk assessment and genetic testing, and innovations in personalized prevention.